Eco-Cycle Adds New EV Recycling Truck, Supporting Colorado’s Shift to Fleet Electrification
We’re leading fleet electrification in the waste management industry—leaving the pollution of the past in the rearview mirror.
Eco-Cycle has taken another significant step toward sustainability by deploying a 100% electric recycling truck this fall, funded by Xcel Energy’s EV Accelerate Innovation program. This addition builds on our acquisition of the nation’s first commercial-scale compost collection truck, deployed in the summer of 2023, and signals our steadfast commitment to a Zero Waste–Zero Emissions future.
Fleet Electrification: A Crucial Step in Colorado’s Climate Strategy
Governor Polis’s plan to electrify transportation is a key element of Colorado’s climate strategy, with a goal of reaching nearly 1 million electric vehicles on the road in the state by 2030.
In the United States, medium- and heavy-duty trucks make up just 4% of vehicles on the road, yet generate 23% of the transportation sector’s greenhouse gasses, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While diesel trucks emit high levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, electric trucks produce zero tailpipe emissions. In Colorado, where the sky is often hazed by wildfires and ozone pollution, the urgency to reduce emissions is clear. Our fleet electrification is a response to the pressing needs of our time.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, electrifying all US trucks would increase national electricity consumption by 13%, but would reduce the total demand for energy by 71% due to the efficiency of electric vehicles compared to diesel ones.
More Than Just Zero Emissions: Promoting Clean Energy, Reducing Noise Pollution
Eco-Cycle’s commitment to Zero Waste, Zero Emissions goes beyond just electrifying our fleet. We’re working toward being able to charge our electric trucks using solar energy, thanks to charging stations funded by Xcel Energy. By powering our EV trucks with solar, we would ensure that they operate with a minimal carbon footprint.
Another benefit of electric trucks is their quietude. Traditional diesel trucks contribute to noise pollution in neighborhoods, where trash, recycling, and compost collection often happens early in the morning, multiple times a day, or continuously throughout the week. In contrast, our electric-powered compost and recycling collection trucks operate almost silently.
Eco-Cycle’s drivers are at the forefront of our transition to an electric fleet, pioneering the use of heavy-duty EV trucks in the field. After initial concerns about the vehicles’ range and the shift away from gas station pit stops (where they had the chance to take a quick break to buy their favorite snack), our drivers have quickly grown to appreciate these vehicles and are passionate about demonstrating that EV trucks represent the future of the hauling industry.
As early adopters, our hauling team is not just operating these trucks—they’re championing them. They actively promote the potential of EVs in commercial hauling, sharing their expertise with other fleet managers to help them navigate the transition and integrate electric vehicles into their own operations.
Through fleet electrification, eventually charging up with solar energy, and cutting noise pollution, we’re demonstrating that sometimes sustainable changes in the waste industry come not with a roar, but with a whisper.
Are you a driving professional looking to work on the cutting edge of sustainable hauling? Eco-Cycle seeks a CDL Class A driver to join our team. Find job descriptions for this and other open positions at ecocycle.org/careers.
